A subtle change began to occur in this vast and enormous cave, the duration of which was unknown. It was a minuscule change, barely noticeable among the countless branches of the cave. However, that change was undeniably growing more prominent. Amidst the silence, the beings of the lowest floor began to look a little higher.

“Are reptiles still the majority here?”

[Armed with rough and tough skin, and a whip-like tail tipped with hard armor.]

The screen displayed a giant lizard. This dog-sized lizard, standing atop a pile of bat corpses, split our dispatched soldier in half with a swing of its tail. Once again, I felt the creatures of this cave, although alien, were incredibly powerful.

“Insect size won’t cut it anymore.”

[Correct. It means our race needs to evolve as a whole.]

We also increased in size. Insects were no longer our base. It was a more advanced, evolved form. Even a lizard with a sharp and flexible tail whip couldn’t defeat the numerous soldiers we had, who had transferred the robust leg muscles of a giant toad to their arms. Borrowing the jaw joint from ants, the soldiers opened their mouths wide and sunk their hard teeth in.

“In the end, it’s the same. To be honest, to stand against us, the opponent must also be legion-level.”

The outcome was one-sided compared to the tension. Unless there was a physical difference, no matter how many they were, the opponent couldn’t beat us. It was the same as when larger creatures like mantises and rats were annihilated by a swarm of ants. To stop a group, an equivalent 'group’ had to come.

[The 8th floor was already in chaos before we entered, just as we intended. The native creatures of this floor couldn’t resist and inevitably became prey to our legion.]

I

Thus, we moved to the 9th floor, passing the 8th floor that was annihilated by bats.

[Look at them. The giant armored spiders that blocked our reconnaissance. But now, they are just our prey.]

Surprisingly, the occupation of the 9th floor was not a big deal. The giant spiders, which once seemed like an insurmountable wall, now looked like insignificant remnants.

[In fact, the legion knows how strong we are. These are produced based on the toad. They have been modified to enable long-range attacks based on past experiences.]

The new soldiers with sturdy bodies crawled and stood in place. They firmly fixed their bodies, like how a self-propelled gun plants a spade for shelling. At the same time, their

skin tore, and a jagged bone spike revealed its end.

[They can create spikes from specific nutrients absorbed internally. And their unique muscle organ adjusts to eject those spikes under high pressure. Now the spikes are fired.

They are poisonous spikes carrying deadly poison.]

The spikes that cut through the wind were stuck in the bodies of the unsuspecting spiders. Even with a hard exoskeleton, the poisonous spikes shattered that armor.

[It will take some time to stabilize the 9th floor. However, separately from that, the legion decided to attempt reconnaissance to update the map.]

“Of course.”

Although it was loose because it was the first time, we already knew the importance of reconnaissance. The legion quickly put the scouts on standby.

[And congratulations. You have broken through the 10th floor and cleared the tutorial.]

“...I forgot.”

[Choose your tutorial reward. After the tutorial is Chapter 1.]

The one who called it a tutorial suddenly made a sudden declaration, and suddenly other contents began to appear on the screen. Three rewards that divided the screen into three.

[Reward 1: One-time Assassination Right]

[Reward 2: 1000 Gold]

[Reward 3: One-time Race Preservation Right]

“Hey, I have no idea what these are?”I rubbed my eyes while blankly looking at the letters. I expected food or samples as rewards, but the contents were completely different.

[Of course. Tutorial rewards are the same for all players. So there won’t be rewards that only fit our race.]

“What’s an assassination right? What’s gold? The shop function isn’t open.”

[The assassination right is literally an assassination right. When you meet a strong enemy someday. You can designate that enemy and assassinate them without any questions.]

“...Crazy.”

I could tell it was overpowered just by hearing it. Then it’s definitely worth saving.

The question was whether it was right to choose the assassination right now.

“Is gold used in the way I know it?”

[As I said in advance, the shop function will open after Chapter 3. You will be able to purchase a few items there.]

“Is the race preservation right... something like an escape pod?”

Even though the explanation was given, I roughly understood it.

It was now time to choose.

In fact, I didn’t ponder for long.

Gold, whose value I didn’t know and couldn’t use yet, was unnecessary.

The race preservation right could be a trump card for us, capable of cellular-level growth.

However, I thought it was right to struggle for victory rather than worry about a defeat that hadn’t yet occurred.

“I’ll go with the assassination right.”

[The reward has been deposited into your inventory]

“Ah, damn it!”

And at that moment, startled by a stinging sensation, I looked at the back of my right hand.

On the back of my hand, which had never had a tattoo before, a black mark was engraved.

[It would be wise to spend your items wisely. Our legion, and you too. We can’t live without each other. That item should be used at the most needed moment, anytime, anywhere.]

“...Would there be a chance to use this in reality?”

I grumbled while rubbing the back of my hand.

There was a slight regret that I should have chosen gold and sold it for money.

[As the 8th and 9th floors were stabilized, the legion removed the spider webs and sent the scouts to the 10th floor. After the tutorial, it’s the moment to announce the real start. ]

The humming BGM changed to a more ominous tone.

For some reason, I felt a little tense.

“It’s wide, isn’t it?”

[The map is being updated. But it was a surprise to the legion. This place is one of the many branches of the cave. The 10th floor that the legion swallowed was actually just a branch of those many branches.]

I clicked on the history tab.Among the records of the past, the text about the world beyond the world that was just created caught my eye.

[It was a moment when the definition of the world known to the legion expanded. They were shocked to realize that the territory they had occupied was actually just a speck of dust in this vast world.]

“Are they freaked out?”

[Do you still not know the legion?]

I added a word in vain and got scolded.

The legion’s scouts explored this vast cavity.

This place was a kind of corridor, but soon they discovered a 'room’ located next to it.

[The vegetation is developing around the flowing water as before, but its scale is different.]

The first thing that caught my attention in the dimly lit scene, illuminated by the glow of luminescent stones, was a colossal two-headed lizard. Its eyes twinkled ominously amidst a vast and varied colony of mushrooms.

The lizard was savagely ripping apart a creature that looked remarkably like a frog.

The issue was their size.

The lizard was as big as a small car, and the frog it was devouring was larger than a hefty dog.

One of the lizard’s two heads, encased in blue scales, swiveled towards the scout in the sky.

And then, in that instant.

“Eek!”

The acrid flame filled the screen before it abruptly went dark.

[Do you see? The creatures of this labyrinth are not to be underestimated.]

“Does it make sense for it to spit fire? It’s not a dragon, it’s a fire-spitting lizard!”

Objectively speaking, the flame was more of a spray. But that was beside the point.

[Are you scared?]

“It’s not that I’m scared... it seems like whatever I put in right now won’t help...”

[That’s not a problem at all.]

His calmness was so unsettling, it made me fear the lizard even more.

[The legion is the one to find the answers, to think, modify, and act. Consider this: if there is a god, do you think it’s right for them to interfere like a helicopter parent? Your role is to create clues and variables.]

“Is that really all I have to do?”

[Don’t underestimate them. The legion is content. They are excited. These creatures are prey, nourishment. If the legion consumes them, they can become stronger.]

I was struck by the realization once more.

The legion never ceased, nor did they know fear.

They held no concept of death.

In death, they simply returned to the legion as nourishment, were reborn, and rejoined the battle.

“My beliefs about life, death, and the soul are being challenged.”

[Someday, you will become their values.]

The words that surfaced were profound. Someday. Someday, when they comprehend my existence and concept.

[The 8th and 9th floors still held a substantial amount of energy. The legion, harnessing this stored power, braced themselves for another confrontation. The target is the fungal forest where the two-headed lizard was recently discovered.]

The legion prepared for another war.